Do you know, it never ceases to amaze me how much comments left on my books can mean. Since Hearts of Avon's release in February I've received lots of excellent feedback. It's quickly becoming the most read of any of my books, 6,800 copies and climbing, and I thought it might be fun to share some of the comments that have been left on Amazon.com recently by my readers."I enjoyed this book so much. It showed us how important prayer is in a true love relationship and how even the worst of storms, between a couple in love, can bring a new rainbow when they pray together for the good of everyone in their lives. I love the way this author writes as it reminds me of the way Nicholas Sparks writes. The ending left me wanting to know more about the outcome of each life. A book worth reading. Easy to read and clean." - Sharon M. Ellis"As someone who went through hurricane Irene on the outer banks this is a good description of events here. A very good read." - Melanie Toler"A boy and girl running from and confronting a relentless stalker in the midst of a hurricane is a thrilling story. Beginning with the girl leaving her abusive boyfriend after he's though he's been able to control her for three years, the path to catastrophe is set. Ben is a nice boy, and Caroline finds relief and happiness in their new playful friendship, while John continues to watch and grow more and more attached to Caroline and desperate for her every day. He thinks of nothing else, and barely seems to notice when he sets his own house ablaze. This is scarily true to real life stalkers, any reader who has been stalked now begins to get very afraid for the heroes. It's exactly what I love in a story like this." - Kestrellian"Although not a chick-lit fan, I really enjoyed "Hearts of Avon". Ben falls in love with a beautiful and intelligent Caroline who does her best to escape her ex-boyfriend, but there are so many other obstacles in the way of Ben and Caroline's love that it's difficult to say if their feelings for each other will be stronger than whatever tries to separate them. "Hearts of Avon" is abundant in twists and turns, and you never know what will happen in the next chapter. I'll gladly reread the story of Ben and Caroline sometime soon, because it's an extremely enjoyable book." - J.W.These are just a few of the reviews that I've had the pleasure of enjoying recently for Hearts of Avon. The book's pitch is below, along with a link to Hearts of Avon in both Paperback and Kindle version in case you'd like to take a read!In Avon, a beach town along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Ben is falling fast for the beautiful and intelligent Caroline, even as they both deal with her stalker ex-boyfriend who has followed her south on vacation.

As Ben learns the depths of the other man's madness his and Caroline's relationship runs into another wall, level 3 Hurricane Irene moving quickly toward the Outer Banks. When the storm arrives, all of their lives will be drastically changed.

If you have read one or more of my books and not yet written a review, I would be incredibly honored if you would go to Amazon.com and review and star rate it/them so that others might read what you write and decide to delve in and enjoy.Have a wonderful day!- Scott J. Toney

Something wonderful is happening at work, we're raising money for the March of Dimes. If we reach our goal of $750 then I'm going to shave my head ;).

Something I've been doing to ensure my haircut, and to assure assistance for babies in need, is to ask for a donation at work of $15 and then give the person donating one of my books. I'm excited to say that it's going extremely well and that so far I've raised around $225. As a father of an amazing daughter and a wonderful baby on the way I am excited to give my support.Would you like to help? For every book purchased from now until April 23rd I'll donate the proceeds to March of Dimes. I'd be honored to team with you in helping babies in need.

Would you like to know what I have available for you to purchase and for me to donate from? I'll list what's available below, and also a link to Amazon.com so that you can check everything out there. There is no better time to check out my books than now.Lazarus, ManPaperback KindleAudiobook Eden LegacyPaperbackKindleAudiobook Hearts of AvonPaperbackKindle - FreeThe Ark of HumanityPaperbackKindle - FreeEden and Ark Fantasy Twin PackKindleDusk CrescencePaperbackKindle

Have you ever had the urge to own both Eden Legacy and The Ark of Humanity in one crisp, fine-tuned eBook? ;) Well then I've got great news, a Fantasy Twin Pack of both books has just released. If you'd like to take a gander, then follow the link below to Amazon.com and check it out!Praise for Eden Legacy

"...utterly believable and yet simultaneously fantastical! This is not unlike the styling of C.S. Lewis. It is an epic, fantasy tale that will hit home with all readers, and when the last page is reached, leave them with a thirst looking for more of Scott J. Toney's writing!" - Laura A. Diaz, author of They Call Me Blanca­­Praise for The Ark of Humanity

"I can see comparisons to Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy in some of the themes raised [in The Ark of Humanity]. As with Pullman's 'daemons', the relationship between the beings and their companions who transport them is particularly enjoyable, a relationship which also reminded me of the dragons in the film 'Avatar'. I can see this as a fantastic storyboard for a Pixar film."- HarperCollins Review

I am excited to announce the release of my second Audiobook, Eden Legacy! Amy Gramour was the voice of the book and is such an amazing talent! Go take a listen at Amazon.com. It’s worth the time, even if you don't have a way to purchase audiobooks. Amy is phenomenal!Thomas, the young King of Havilah, is drawn to a forest beyond his lands. Here he discovers seven figs, fruit from the long forgotten Eden.

In the land of Cush, Princess Lilya suffers under the rule of her father, until the day when young King Thomas of Havilah invites her away to his lands. There, she hopes to find peace she has never known.

But Thomas has been drawn to a foreign land, to figs he hopes are from Eden and the Tree of Life. When he eats them to heal his wounds things change within him, distorting him in ways he could not predict.

Now Lilya must make a decision. Does she stand by Thomas's side or act to dispel the evil consuming his soul?

Amidst this world Lilya has befriended a dragon. There are secrets within the beast that could determine all their fates.What others are saying about Eden Legacy

"...utterly believable and yet simultaneously fantastical! This is not unlike the styling of C.S. Lewis. It is an epic, fantasy tale that will hit home with all readers, and when the last page is reached, leave them with a thirst looking for more of Scott J. Toney's writings!"- Laura A. Diaz, author of Come What May"I love the way the author tells this story with ties into the old testament story of Eden and how man stumbled and fell. All of Scott's books have really imaginative plots, and this one is no exception. You can feel all the emotions of the characters. Generocity, greed, love, hate, elation and misery. Great read."- Dave, reviewer on Amazon.comCheck out Eden Legacy in audiobook format now at Amazon.com!http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Legacy/dp/B00C7Z6DCA/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365439178&sr=1-2

In adition to the books I write to sell, I also write books for my wife about our lives together. I write entries and then poems relating to the entries after them. I would normally not share an entry from those books with others, but I've finished one recently after our church's Maundy Thursday service that I'd really like to share.---Last night was Maundy Thursday, the night when the church gets together to reflect on what Jesus and the disciples experienced in the days leading up to the crucifixion. I was asked to play Jesus in the Church’s play. It was an extreme honor for me, and though emotionally very difficult, portraying him was such a wonderful and spiritually filling experience.As I practiced for the role in the weeks before, I didn’t really get into it emotionally. It all seemed a little surreal and I wondered if I could actually do this role in a way that would be meaningful the way that it should be for the congregation. Then, on the night of Maundy Thursday, as I came up into the chapel I thought heavily on what Jesus’ emotions must have been in those final days before crucifixion. He must have felt betrayed and so sad and pained by what was happening to him, and yet I picture this immeasurable happiness deep inside of him for the gift of forgiveness he was about to give the world through his death.I love singing in services, but early on in the service I found myself with tears running down my face, unable to sing and sitting in my seat, eyes closed and taking in thoughts of what Jesus must have felt in those last days.During the service I spoke twice. I washed the feet of ‘Peter’, which was emotional for both of us, and I also presented communion to the members of the church while acting as Jesus. This was the most emotional part of the service for me, giving the bread and wine that represent Jesus’ body and blood. I cannot express the honor I felt in doing that.At the end of the night I heard from many people about how much the service and the acting by me and the other actors touched the congregation emotionally. I did not expect the fullness of it, but by the end of the night I felt God so fully within me and his forgiveness so deeply in my soul. It was breathtaking. I am so honored, and so humbled by what Jesus sacrificed so that all of us can truly live.

3/29/2013Scott J. ToneySacrificial GiftWhat was given on the treethe blood that’s shed for you and methe sacrificethe tears he criedthe pain that seared as nails pierced his hidethe crown of thorns upon his headthe agony as his forgiveness bledour savior dies upon the crossbut our good Lord knows, it is not a lossbecause the most precious gift of allis his pain, his blood, given for allfor our sins, our hatred and greedfor our lust and tyrannyhe takes the pain we all would endurefor the blackness we’ve brought into this worldand as he diesas the temple fallslight floods in and we are strongrenewed by what he’s given usheld so fully in the Lord’s handsforgivenblessedbecause of his light, we stand.

Often times I find that poetry inspires my works. Years ago I wrote a poetry book called Dusk Crescence. It was a poetry diary from the minds of different fantasy characters, and as I have decided on topics to write about with my novels I’ve looked back to the poems in that book for inspiration. Evanshade, from The Ark of Humanity, was the first character in my novels that came about in this way. The poem below is what inspired his character. I hope you enjoy!The poem that inspired Evanshade from The Ark of Humanity...CnmohehkoBeneath distanced mists strewn Kisper Pondcool ocean’s water’s blendsvaliant currents drift across sloped coral floorslight waveringsilluminated withinamongst columned lightstaunch merman floatssilhouetted,dampened,cleansedlight waverings across his body’s formtwo lips light blue with frostkelp waters lostsingle swaying formliquid touches and is tossedthrashed out upon the coral reefseaweed dressing shoresbrought back again in wavesof liquid velvetcalming warmthsilver fish swimming around whispered merman's formlight reflectant finglittering off light greens and bluesupon aqua water’s windsthe melody of a fluteplateau on the ocean floormaiden in the skylost in between there lies the depthstwo sauntering onward eyesshoulders lined with seaweed strapsan engraving on the armchains bared upon the ocean floordestiny disarmedliquid eyesstaring through the depthsa warriorfor time.And here is the first chapter of The Ark of Humanity, as a little teaser to the book.

1The Escaped ScrollBetween Sangfoul and BanealIn the depths beneath the seaDarkness and oceanic starlight shimmered around him as Evanshade pursued the youth he had been sent after through the ocean depths. His heart pulsed strongly in his chest and his thick tailfin beat heavily behind him. Where are you, boy? Then, with a glance, he saw movement on the dark horizon.“Halt! Surrender and you will not be harmed!” he called out. It was a lie, but would the lie produce his prey? No, the boy continued away from him in the distance. With a pump of his tailfin Evanshade burst forward, hugging close to the ocean floor as fish swam up, curling around his body in startled fear. Now that the youth was in his sight he would close on him quickly.He didn’t want to kill, but this boy carried secrets, secrets he had stolen from Sangfoul. They told of things that were soon to come and Evanshade could not let those secrets get out, not if he treasured his own life and wanted to keep it. He was a leader in Sanfoul’s forces and the dark lord would never let him survive if this information escaped.Water curled around him. With another pulse from his fin he neared the boy, lifting his trident upward and driving it down into the legged boy’s back, crushing his body to the sand below and pinning him there. Crack! The sound of the boy’s spine breaking beneath his trident’s force echoed through the depths.“Ach…c…c…” The youth’s body convulsed as globules of blood spewed forth from where the trident pierced him.Evanshade felt bile rising in his throat but swallowed it down. “It is how things must be,” he told the dying boy as the youth’s fingers scratched at the ocean floor below him. “And there is much more to come, not for you, but for the others. I cannot stop it. I am trapped in this as much as your people and the people of Meridia are destined for their fates.” He drew a dagger from a whale-leather sheath on his side and drove it through the youth’s back and into his heart, taking what remained of life from him. Then he withdrew the dagger and brought it to the dead boy’s finger, pressing down against it and severing it from his hand. This will prove your death, he thought. How many lives are traded for me to live? How many lives am I worth?Evanshade tucked the bloody finger in a pouch at his side, sheathed the dagger and, while holding the dead body firm under his fin’s weight, hefted his trident out of its back.With a turn and a pulse of his fin Evanshade disappeared in the starlit darkness of the ocean once more.*From beneath the boy’s body a small kelp scroll was carried out by the currents, moving onward in a journey its messenger would never make.Later the boy’s father, a leader of Baneal, would discover it and then his son. He would cry tears into the water as blood permeated around him.And a link to a free copy in case you'd like to read on ;)